With the cold, a magnesium boost may be a good idea. Some people would be well inspired to get started, explains a specialist.
It is among the best-selling food supplements in France. Magnesium is present in many everyday foods, but it has reached a milestone in pharmacies and drugstores with the explosion in sales of these capsules, supposed to boost the body and compensate for certain deficiencies. The turnover of the food supplements market in France now amounts to 2.7 billion euros, and as in past years it is expected to grow further in the future. With magnesium as the driving force.
Why such passion? Magnesium is an essential nutrient for the body with many benefits associated with it. It improves sleep, reduces blood pressure, relieves headaches and migraines, fights anxiety and depression, etc. It also seems, for some, to be a booster. But what do the specialists think? “Like many vitamins and supplements, some uses of magnesium are strongly supported by scientific evidence, while others are not,” says Dr. Edward Saltzman, in an article published by Tufts University. According to this nutritionist, some people still have very good reasons to consume larger quantities, particularly via food supplements.
So who really needs it? The people concerned would be postmenopausal and elderly women because “they are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones,” specifies Edward Saltzman. Magnesium is, in fact, associated with better bone mineral density, because it participates in bone formation through its influence on bone renewal. Furthermore, magnesium consumption is also associated with better muscle health and, by extension, a reduced risk of falls and therefore fracture.
Although magnesium intake is recommended for some people, it can nevertheless be achieved through something other than dietary supplements in the majority of the population. If you want to take it, think about the many foods that naturally contain it such as nuts, certain seeds like sesame, chia and pumpkin, but also in spinach, dark chocolate, brown rice, tuna, and many others.
If food supplements seem necessary to you, don’t rush into them headlong. With this type of product, it is better to seek the advice of a health professional, especially when a medical prescription is in progress.